WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The 22 Most Influential Former Beauty Queens

Last month, Maria Gabriela Isler of Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe — the 62nd woman to be crowned with the prestigious title since the competition was founded in 1952.

And while the Miss Universe crown represents one of the most honorable of all beauty titles, hundreds of pageants take place all over the world each year.

Throughout the past 60 years of Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions, former beauty queens have gone on to have successful careers — journalists such as Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer, Oscar winners like Halle Berry, many leaders in philanthropy, and more.

Check out the former beauty queens who are doing their parts to change the world.

Miss Kansas Theresa Vail looked like the average contestant when she competed in Miss America this year.

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But during the swimsuit segment, this army sergeant became the first contestant to ever expose her tattoos.

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Miss Kansas Theresa Vail was only the second contestant in the military to ever compete in Miss America, and altough she didn't win, she placed in the top 10.

She's also an expert M16 marksman, a bow hunter, a skydiver, a boxer and a mechanic, according to People.

Vail also became the first contestant to showcase her tattoos during this year's competition.

"Why am I choosing to bear my tattoos?" Vail says. "My whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers. What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink. How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can't do the same? I am who I am, tattoos and all."

Lauren Nelson won the Miss America crown in 2007 and used her title for a good cause ...

... she has worked alongside New York cops to promote Internet safety.

Over the past six years, Nelson has traveled throughout the country raising awareness for Internet safety and promoting a nationwide platform, Be NetSmart.

In 2007, Nelson and John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted" teamed upwith New York police in a sting targeting sexual predators. Nelson posed as a young teen in an online chat room, helping cops arrest a handful of men.

Nelson now lives in Oklahoma, where she co-anchors "News 9 at Four" on Oklahoma's News 9 and works for various charitable organizations and youth retreats.

After being the first black woman to win Miss Florida in 2003, a surprised Ericka Dunlap went on to win Miss America in 2004 ...

After being crowned Miss Virginia, Nicole Johnson took home the Miss America crown in 1999 ...

... She is now a diabetes advocate, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1993.

Since her Miss America victory, Johnson has worked as a journalist (winning a Telly award in 2008) and an international consultant and advocate for diabetes issues, helping to raise over $26 million for diabetes research.

Johnson, who has diabetes, has promoted awareness through numerous articles, published in the likes of USA Today and Diabetic Cooking Magazine, and six books.

As the executive director of the University of South Florida's Bringing Science Home project, Johnson investigates the connection between chronic disease and family dynamics.

She has served on numerous health advisory boards in Florida, including the Tampa Bay chapter of the American Diabetes Associations.

Eva Longoria won the title of Miss Corpus Christi, USA in 1998 ...

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... Longoria went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe for her role on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and was named "Philanthropist of the Year."

Eva Longoria landed her first TV job just a year after the pageant, hosting a weekend destination segment on "L.A. In A Day" and guest starring on "Beverly Hills, 90210."

She had her big break on CBS' "The Young and the Restless," playing Isabella Braña from 2001 to 2003, at which time she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in ABC's "Desperate Housewives." The eight-year role earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Aside from an acting career, and several business ventures, including a restaurant in Hollywood, she is heavily involved in philanthropy work.

In 2006 she founded Eva's Heroes, a charity that helps developmentally disabled children, and she executive produced Shine Global Inc.'s documentary "The Harvest," which focused on child migrant farm workers.

Longoria has also been involved with St. Jude Children's Hospital and National Council of La Raza, the latter of which drove her to further her education in Chicano studies.

"Because of my involvement with the NCLR and my charity work, I really wanted a better, more authentic understanding of what my community has gone through so I can help create change," Longoria said.

The Hollywood Reporter named her "Philanthropist of the Year" in 2009.

Before becoming a TV star, Vanessa Minnillo was named Miss Teen USA in 1998 ...

Following Katherine Shindle's victory at Miss America 1998 ...

... the beauty queen went on to become a Broadway star and AIDS activist.

With her Miss America crown, Shindle became an AIDS activist, giving lectures and helping to raise millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS awareness, even chairing a session at the World Health Organization in Switzerland.

As a fundraiser for the National AIDS Fund, Shindle teamed up with a Chicago jazz ensemble to release a Christmas CD, "Christmases to Come."

Erika Harold won Miss America 2003 ...

... and last year, she made a bid for Congress.

Following her pageant win in 2003, the former Miss America and Harvard Law School graduate ran for national office, seeking to represent the 13th District of Illinois in the House of Representatives.

Harold, a civil litigation attorney out of Chicago, replaced Rep. Tim Johnson as the Republican candidate and announced that her main focus if elected would be the national debt.

She told ABC News, “Hopefully, it’s a thing that gets someone’s attention, but then they will see that I graduated from Harvard Law School … and in a wide variety of ways am qualified to be in Congress."

Though Harold didn't get the Republican Party nod, she did help pave the way for other beauty queens to get involved in politics.

... she became the first black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball."

Berry followed up the Miss USA competition with Miss World. Though she didn't win, she certainly made up for it.

After trying out modeling in Chicago, she moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.

Berry's breakout roles included a small part in "Jungle Fever" and a supporting role in "Strictly Business," but it was her larger roles in "The Flintstones" and the "X-Men" film franchise that earned her acclaim in the industry.

In 2002, Berry became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her lead role in "Monster's Ball."

After just becoming a mom for the second time, Berry's set to hit the big screen again in next year's "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

Vanessa Williams was the first African-American to win Miss America when she took home the crown in 1984 ...

... she went on to become one of the most longstanding TV personalities.

Though she didn't walk away with a win at the pageant, White became an iconic television personality thanks to her role as the hostess of "Wheel of Fortune."

White and Pat Sajak have hosted the game show since 1982, and though the former beauty queen has had several cameos in movies and television shows, her claim to fame continues to be her nightly "Wheel of Fortune" appearance.

... she went on to report for and anchor numerous news programs.

After serving as an anchor for NBC in Atlanta and Chicago, Norville became a co-host alongside Katie Couric on "Today" — a position she held for two years.

In the 1993, Norville joined CBS, acting as a correspondent and eventually as an anchor for "CBS Evening News" and "48 Hours." When Bill O'Reilly left "Inside Edition" in 1995, Norville signed onto the job, where she continues to cover a range of national and international stories.

Norville also hosts an online talk show, "New Way RA," to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis — a condition her mother suffered from.

She has been involved in numerous charities, including Mother's March of Dimes, Rita Hayworth Alzheimer's Gala, and the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York.

Oprah Winfrey's first time in the limelight was at the Miss Black Tennessee pageant in 1972 ...

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... Oprah is now a one-name media giant and American icon.

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Winfrey is best known for her syndicated talk show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which brought the host face to face with celebrities, politicians, and average joes with anything but average stories.

Winfrey's show became the highest-rated program in history, and during its 25-season run from 1986 to 2011, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" racked up 47 Daytime Emmy Awards and aired in 144 countries.

With an almost $3 billion net worth, Winfrey is the wealthiest African-American in the United States, according to Forbes.

As the chairwoman and CEO of Harpo Productions (which produces "Dr. Phil" and "Rachael Ray") and the Oprah Winfrey Network, Winfrey has branched into film and Broadway, producing and acting in films like "The Color Purple" and this year's "The Butler."

Winfrey has also been involved in extensive philanthropy work — shelling out $400 million to charitable causes as of 2012.

After Marian McKnight Conway became Miss America in 1957...

... she and her husband opened a sustainable winery in California.

After the pageant, McKnight Conway appeared on network television shows, in commercials, and served as a spokesperson for companies like Revlon and Philco.

Along with her involvement in other charities, she helped found the Amie Karen Cancer Center for Children at Cedar-Sinai in California.

McKnight Conway and her husband Gary Carmody Conway own a vineyard and winery, Carmody McKnight Estate Wines, on the Central Coast of California. As a sustainable winery with rare soil, the vineyard and its wines have won numerous recognitions.

In 1955, Lee Meriwether Borden became Miss America, but she took on a completely different role later on ...